The Role of Social Capital in Elite Private Education: A Personal Connection

The Role of Social Capital in Elite Private Education: A Personal Connection

Introduction: After the unveiling of the higher education admissions scandal last year, discussion began about why anyone would want to cheat their way (or their childrens') into elite private (and public) schools, especially Ivy Leagues and similar public universities. Much of the discussion focused on the social capital gained from attending highly-ranked universities, especially for those aspiring to enter high-level, high-paying job fields immediately after college (Goodkind; Kingkade). For those are accepted at said universities, simply being able to go there allows students to gain access to immense social capital to assist with achieving high-level jobs (Kingkade). Even for those not directly interested in going into very high-level job fields, simply going to a high-level school grants a significantly-high social status and associated privileges (Goodkind). This concept links back to what I discussed in my literature review of Hillbilly Elegy and The Other Wes Moore about the role of social capital in moving up the socio-economic ladder. "It's not what you know, but who" is a phrase I have heard frequently since entering undergraduate, although I probably heard it before that, and is one that encapsulates the allure of elite private (and public) universities for aspiring students and their parents.  

J.D. Vance's Experience: In the second half of his autobiography Hillbilly Elegy, author J.D. Vance detailed his experience attaining his law degree from Yale after completing his undergraduate studies from a state school (Ohio State), and coming from a Rust Belt middle-class background before that (Vance, 216). Among other aspects of his law school experience, Vance extensively discusses that like himself, many of his peers who attended Yale Law School took advantage of the school's resources and social capital, such as prominent lawyers, public officials, and writers working there, as a means to further their professional goals (Vance, 215-221). In particular, instructor Amy Choa (another famous author) assisted Vance with applying to become a court clerk, which he eventually achieved. However, he did not take the position after learning from another instructor about the realties of court clerkships (Vance, 217-219). In addition, through his Yale Law School experience, Vance also gained access to other connections and mentors, notably ex-Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (R) (Vance, 220-221). All combined, these experiences that Vance went through on his journey through law school demonstrate the extensive social capital that elite institutions such as Yale offer, which in turn allows students to come out prepared (or already securing one) to take on high-level job positions. 

My Personal Anecdote: In Fall 2017, when considering Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) programs to apply for, I decided to not only apply for several high-level public schools, but also try my hand with at least one private school with a good M.P.P. track. Since I had only applied to public schools for undergraduate, and considering how much I had advanced academically and skill-wise, I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could successfully assert myself for a high-level private school program. In the end, I chose to try for Georgetown University's M.P.P. program as the private school, along with several public schools. When the university decisions came the following March, I was shocked to find out that I had gotten into Georgetown. In the end, for personal reasons, I chose to attend the nearby University of Maryland in College Park. This is a decision I do not regret, as I gained a significant amount of knowledge, social capital, and further passion for what I like to do (that is, talking about, writing about, and analyzing topics related to public policy, current events, and public affairs). Even still, being accepted at Georgetown, a high-level private institution with a top-quality reputation, is something I am still proud about, even though I did not take the offer. 

In addition to wanting to try for a private school "just because," there is another significant reason why I was potentially interested in doing my graduate degree at an elite private school. Like J.D. Vance, this reason was to take advantage of the social capital provided by schools such as Georgetown, which I knew would greatly assist my policy aspirations. In particular, I knew that simply completing my degree and being able to say that I got it from "Georgetown" would have provided a significant boost to my professional aspirations due to the to the school's name being associated with having a high-quality education. As stated earlier I do not regret choosing UMD to get my graduate studies from, despite knowing the prestige Georgetown would bring on me. 

When the college admissions scandal was unveiled last year, it made me think about why I wanted to attend Georgetown's Public Policy school, and I realized it was for the same reasons that the parents implicated in the scandal wanted their kids to get into high-level public and private schools. Like them, it was to legitimize my social position and gain exclusive access to human and social capital I perceived was better at a private institution such as Georgetown. Yet, I feel that the education I still received at UMD and related external experiences was just as sufficient. 

Works Cited:

Goodkind, Nicole. "An End to Affirmative Action? Why the College Admissions Scandal Could Fulfill Critics' Wish to Scrap Race-Based Program." Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2019, www.newsweek.com/2019/04/12/affirmative-action-college-admissions-statistics-scandal-1372652.html. Accessed 15 Oct. 2020. 

Kingkade, Tyler. "This Is Why Canadian Universities Don’t Have College Admissions Scandals." The Huffington Post, 26 Apr. 2019, www.huffpost.com/entry/college-admissions-scam-inequality-university-canada_n_5cc16918e4b0ad77ff7fd4e8. Accessed 15 Oct. 2020. 

Vance, J.D. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. HarperCollins: New York, 2016. 

     Nathan Parmeter

     Author and Host, The Parmeter Politics and Policy Record